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A Protocol for Bioinspired Design: A Ground Sampler Based on Sea Urchin Jaws
Published on: April 24, 2016
Marine Bioceramic Generation for Bone Tissue Regeneration: Sea Urchin (Echinometra mathaei) Exoskeleton-Derived
Sara Jamshidizadeh1, Narges Amrollahi Biuki2,3, Maaroof Zarei4,5
1Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science and Technology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
Abstract:
The marine environment is a rich and diverse habitat, home to numerous organisms that serve as valuable sources of biological and pharmacological compounds. The skeletal structures of many marine invertebrates represent precursors for calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramics. This study demonstrates hydroxyapatite (HA) synthesis from sea urchin (Echinometra mathaei) shell and spine, a sustainable CaCO₃ source. FTIR and XRD analysis revealed the presence of characteristic peaks associated with hydroxyapatite. SEM-EDS observations indicated that synthesis parameters determined the calcium to phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) and morphology of the derived calcium phosphate bioceramic. HA-based hydrogels play an important role in bone tissue engineering due to their high biocompatibility. The hydrogels were formulated as follows: a control group of oxidized carboxymethyl chitosan/cellulose (O-CMC/CEL), a composite group with commercial hydroxyapatite (O-CMC/CEL/HA), and two experimental composite groups containing HA synthesized from sea urchin spine (O-CMC/CEL/HA (spine-derived)) and shell (O-CMC/CEL/HA (shell-derived)). Four groups of hydrogels melded on 3D print frames to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs). SEM, FTIR, water contact angle, swelling rate, and live/dead assay results indicated that the porous composite hydrogels possessed a suitable microarchitecture, featuring appropriate pore size and interconnectivity, which promotes nutrient permeability, cell attachment, cell survival, and proliferation. Furthermore, real-time PCR analysis indicated an upregulation of key osteogenic markers in ADSCs cultured on these composites, suggesting their potential to support osteogenic differentiation. The collective in vitro evidence indicates that the O-CMC/CEL/HA (spine-derived) composite hydrogel, with its suitable physicochemical properties and positive cellular responses, represents a promising biomaterial for future bone tissue engineering studies.
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